Spread the Wealth
Curiosity drives me to try many different things. An idea has been stewing in my mind for a couple days now, and I have decided to just try it and see what happens. Hopefully, it will not explode in my face.
On a fairly regular basis, usually about once or twice a month, I donate money to a person, charity, organization, or what have you. It ranges anywhere between giving an acquaintance a Flickr Pro account to donating a substantial amount of money to a non-profit. While I would never consider myself blessed, I am fortunate to have had a well paying job for a few years and frugal spending habits in relation to that income. My investments are still doing relatively well and my part time contract work pays more than my bills, and like a certain Mr. Barack Obama I believe in spreading the wealth around and helping others/causes I believe in.
But, this month I want someone else to choose. The election is over, and I would prefer if we could keep some of this energy and momentum going. For months, people were seriously invested in the future of their communities and government. They should continue to be so, for their entire life, not just when there is an election. Keep your civic life strong!
So, here's the deal. I am going to donate $1,000. Write a paragraph, an essay, or a proposal explaining to me where I should donate this money and why, and then post it in the comments. The one I deem the most worthy will get the money (and yes, that means all of my personal biases might come into play).
There are no real restrictions. It can be a person, family, group, non-profit, cause, organization, or possibly just investing it in something like green energy. However, keep your arguments mature, responsible, and lacking any sort of anger or hate; I want to see the best of humanity, not the worst. Have at it. Oh, and you have until Monday morning.
Update:
A Mr. Derek Jones pointed out over IM that writing a check != community action. To which I say: duh. Of course, you writing an argument for where my money should be donated is not actually community action. Instead, this, like much of what I write here politically, is meant to start thoughts and a discussion. To get people motivated to thinking about what could or should be done in their communities, small or great, local or global. I have also received emails from other people who have talked about their own donating or volunteering habits. Things I like to hear. So, yes, if those are the topics you wish to bring up, go ahead and say something in the comments.
On a fairly regular basis, usually about once or twice a month, I donate money to a person, charity, organization, or what have you. It ranges anywhere between giving an acquaintance a Flickr Pro account to donating a substantial amount of money to a non-profit. While I would never consider myself blessed, I am fortunate to have had a well paying job for a few years and frugal spending habits in relation to that income. My investments are still doing relatively well and my part time contract work pays more than my bills, and like a certain Mr. Barack Obama I believe in spreading the wealth around and helping others/causes I believe in.
But, this month I want someone else to choose. The election is over, and I would prefer if we could keep some of this energy and momentum going. For months, people were seriously invested in the future of their communities and government. They should continue to be so, for their entire life, not just when there is an election. Keep your civic life strong!
So, here's the deal. I am going to donate $1,000. Write a paragraph, an essay, or a proposal explaining to me where I should donate this money and why, and then post it in the comments. The one I deem the most worthy will get the money (and yes, that means all of my personal biases might come into play).
There are no real restrictions. It can be a person, family, group, non-profit, cause, organization, or possibly just investing it in something like green energy. However, keep your arguments mature, responsible, and lacking any sort of anger or hate; I want to see the best of humanity, not the worst. Have at it. Oh, and you have until Monday morning.
Update:
A Mr. Derek Jones pointed out over IM that writing a check != community action. To which I say: duh. Of course, you writing an argument for where my money should be donated is not actually community action. Instead, this, like much of what I write here politically, is meant to start thoughts and a discussion. To get people motivated to thinking about what could or should be done in their communities, small or great, local or global. I have also received emails from other people who have talked about their own donating or volunteering habits. Things I like to hear. So, yes, if those are the topics you wish to bring up, go ahead and say something in the comments.
– Posted: November 06, 2008, 04:09 pm